Automatic packaging method and apparatus



1954 w. s, PATTERSON ETAL 2,697,541

AUTOMATIC PACKAGING METHOD AND APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 27,1952 1954 w. s. PATTERSON ET AL 2,597,541

AUTOMATIC PACKAGING METHOD AND APPARATUS 1320882302 8.PaZe2 soa2/,Eflucizar zae 69 MM 7 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 27, 1952 1954 w. s,PATTERSON ET AL 2,697,541

AUTOMATIC PACKAGING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed May 27, 1952 7Sheets-Sheet 3 1954 w. s. PATTERSON ETAL 2,697,541

AUTOMATIC PACKAGING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed May 27, 1952 7Sheets-Sheet 4 Wizams. Baifieflsow, Ge'oflge EDWme, ray (Hi/303 22453;

Dec. 21, 1954 w. s, PATTERSON ET AL 2,697,541

AUTOMATIC PACKAGING METHOD AND APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 512319982130818: fil'aiieaflow,

Filed May 27, 1952 1954 we. PATTERSON ETAL 2,697,541

AUTOMATIC PACKAGING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed May 27, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet e 1954 w. s. PATTERSON ET AL 2,697,541

AUTOMATIC PACKAGING METHOD AND APPARATUS m M AI V.0\ m M m m .93 vi cwmK\ m mm 7 \0\ D P3 6 w Rm. NQ F VN 8 MN v9 Filed May 27:; 1952 49 MHZ/flfibveze y United States Patent AUTOMATIC PACKAGING METHOD ANDAPPARATUS William S. Patterson and George E. Ducharme, Arlington, Mass.,assignors to Chelsea Carton Company, Chelsea, Mass., a corporation ofMassachusetts Application May 27, 1952, Serial No. 290,144

11 Claims. (Cl. 22614) This invention relates to an automatic packagingmechanism for handling dispensing packets of the class particularlyexemplified by sugar packets and similar envelope type containers usedto hold materials such as spices, condiments, herbs, chemicals, and thelike.

The packaging mechanism has been designed for use especially in bagforming machines of the general con struction and operation described inthe Patterson Pat. No. 2,385,229, issued Sept. 18, 1945. However, itshould be understood that we do not intend to limit the invention to usewith the earlier patented machines and we may desire to employ all, orparts, of our improved packaging mechanism with various types ofapparatus for producing or handling dispensing packets and similararticles.

in forming a packet of the sealed edge type noted in the patent abovereferred to, the filling material is usually introduced while the packetis disposed in an upright position in a partly finished condition and,consequently, most of the loose solid material falls into the bottom ofthe packet to there produce a substantially greater packet thicknessthan is present at the top of the packet. Such a variation in thicknessbecomes an important consideration in packaging a considerable number ofthe packets, for example units of fifty packets or larger, especiallywhere it is desired to arrange the packets flatwise in superimposedrelation to one another. The difference in thickness in each packetmakes it difficult to hold the packets in a uniform pile as the thickportions of the packets build up faster than the thin portions and,hence, the bags slide away from one another, preventing an orderlystacking process and, in some cases, interfering with such mechanism asmay be employed for automatically feeding the packets into a box orother container.

The present invention is concerned with the problems indicated and aimsto devise a method and apparatus for packing dispensing packets of theclass described in suitable boxes, or other forms of containers, and ina manner such that the diificulties referred to are substantiallyeliminated or avoided and individual packets are compactly andefiiciently arranged so that the packaged unit will reach the consumerwith the packets occurring in a uniform and neatly disposed condition.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a simple, efficient andeconomical packaging mechanism which can be operated automatically at arelatively fast rate of speed without interference with the packets atany point in the handling process. Still another object of the inventionis to devise a packaging mechanism which may be manufactured as anindependent unit capable of being attached to bag forming machines ofthe character above referred to without modifying the operating parts ofsuch machines and with only a minimum amount of changes being necessaryin order to obtain a proper working relationship.

These and other objects and novel features will be more fully understoodand appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodimentof the invention selected for purposes of illustration and shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic viewillustrating the movement of packets from those points at whichindividual packets are formed up to and including delivery of. thepackets to a container in which the packets are stacked;

Fig. 2 is a plan cross-sectional view showing parts of a bag formingmachine of the class referred to and with which the automatic packagingmechanism of the invention has been shown;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view showing portionsof the packaging mechanism combined with a bag forming machine; v

5 is a fragmentary detail plan cross-sectional View;

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical cross-sectional view of the plungermechanism;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic the feeding cycle of packets;

8 is a perspective view of a special type of packet;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing steps through which containers aremoved in receiving packets;

Fig. 10 is a detail vertical cross-sectional view of the hopper of theinvention with packets disposed therein;

Fig. 11 is a detail plan view showing parts of the conveyor mechanismand drive therefor;

Fig. 12 is a cross-section taken on the line 1212 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 13 is another detail vertical section taken at a point intermediatethe conveyor mechanism and just in front of the dispensing hopperapparatus;

Fig. 14 is a cross-section taken on the line 14-14 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a detail elevational View; and

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the clutchmechanism.

In conventional methods of producing packets of the sealed edge typedescribed in the patents above referred to, a strip of paper is ledthrough guide rolls and pressed into contact with a vertical former bymeans of brushes to provide two adjacent sides of an envelope member, ifhas been indicated somewhat diagrammatically in ig. l.

The sides are thereafter sealed together in the well known manner bymeans of L-shaped heating elements, thus providing an envelope sectionsecured at the bottom and along a rear edge, and having its top open.Filler material of some desired type is introduced into the envelopethus formed and thereafter the top edge of the filler is sealed. Ashearing mechanism then cuts cit the fully sealed bag section.

In the present invention we provide an improved method and apparatus forreceiving packets just after they have been sheared and for guiding thepackets and selectively turning them over upon themselves in a novelmanner so that the solid material of any one packet will occur in analternately disposed manner with respect to the solid material of a nextsucceeding packet.

This is achieved by means of a special alternating guide structureincluding a pair of spaced apart tubular guides which alternately moveinto position to receive successive packets as they are cut off. Theguides then turn the packets about a vertical axis into a position suchthat they can be dropped on to a delivery chute. Thereafter the packetspass from the delivery chute into a dispensing hopper which is providedwith a movable bottom section functioning in the nature of a trap doorto periodically release packets and allow them to drop down into a boxor other suitable container which is supported on a conveyor memberdirectly below the dispensing hopper.

In accordance with a further novel aspect of the method and apparatus ofthe invention we provide for periodically changing the position of thebox on the conveyor so that the packets as they are delivered from thedispensing hopper become stacked, one upon another, in a plurality ofclosely compacted adjacent piles.

In carrying out this movement we have devised a novel reversing stepfeed mechanism for forcing the box rearwardly of the conveyor belt intimed relationship with respect to the operation of the dispensinghopper and in a sequence such that a predetermined number of packetswill be selectively located in the box as it moves through the differentloading stations.

An important feature of the invention is a packaging mechanism sodesigned as to comprise a compact unit which can be readily attached toa bag forming machine of the type noted with a minimum amount ofdifficulty. As an aid to more fully understanding the packagingmechanism and the manner in which it is installed, a brief descriptionwill first be given of portions of one typical view illustrating stepsin 3 bag forming machine to which the packaging unit may be attached,together with parts of the machine drive which are employed to drive thepackaging mechanism.

ln the structure shown in the drawings there is illustrated an uprightframe formed with lower vertical side walls 4 and 6 on which issupported a top section 7, as noted in Fig. 3. Solidly bolted to the top7 are two upper side wall sections 8 and 9. A motor 10 drives a pulley14 through a belt 12. The pulley member is free to rotate on a shaft 16which has its ends mounted in suitable hearings in the side walls 4 and6. The pulley 14 drives the shaft 16 through a clutch 15, better shownin Fig. 4, and manually controlled by a clutch handle 15b, as shown atthe left-hand side of Fig. 2.

Secured on shaft 16 is a small gear 18 (Fig. 2) arranged to mesh with alarge gear 20. The latter gear is fast on a shaft 22 which is supportedat its ends in bearings located in the two opposite frame sides 4 and 6.As indicated at the right-hand side of Fig. 2, shaft 22 carries asprocket gear 24 driving a sprocket chain 28, in turn driving a sprocketgear 30 on a shaft 32. This shaft also extends between the sides 4 and 6of the machine at points intermediate the shafts 16 and 22 and at asomewhat higher point in the machine, as may be seen from an inspectionof Fig. 4.

It will be understood that the motor and shaft arrangement describedcontrol the formation of dispensing packets through actuating mechanism,which has not been shown in the drawings since this actuating mechanismforms no part of the present invention. However, formation of packetshas been indicated at the upper side of Fig. 3 wherein is shown a packetP about to be sheared and dropped into the alternating tubular guidemechanism which comprises one of the more essential parts of the presentinvention.

Guide mechanism The guide mechanism includes a horizontal plate or table35, better shown in Fig. 2, which is supported centrally of the machineon a bracket 37 bolted to the frame top 7. Vertically disposed throughthe table 35 is a post 39 having its lower end solidly received in aplate 41, as shown in Fig. 4. The plate 41 is bolted to the frame top 7at a point below the table 35.

Rotatably mounted on the post 39 is a gear 43 which is formed with asleeve 45. Fixed at the upper end of the sleeve 45 is a ring 47 carryingan arm 48 to which ,is fastened a tubular guide element 50. The lattermember is open at each end and is normally supported in a substantiallyupright position. As shown in Fig. 2 the guide is constructed with aninner rectangularly shaped opening 50a which is chosen of a sizeslightly larger than the packet P so that the guide may freely receivethe packet in one position and support it in an upright manner with itslower edge being allowed to rest momentarily upon the table 35 when thepacket drops downwardly into the guide element 50.

It will be apparent that rotation of the gear 43 in one direction willcause the guide 50 to swing about a vertical axis and to move intoregister with the upper inlet 49a of a chute member 49, at which point'the packet contained in the guide will be released on to the guide in aflatwise manner with its lower portion, in which is contained the solidfiller material, assuming a foremost position. I

Secured to the ring 47 above the gear sleeve 45 is a second ring 52which extends outwardly and carries an upright arm 54 on which issupported a second tubular guide 64. This arm projects outwardly fromthe post at an angle slightly greater than 90 with respect to the arm48. With this arrangement rotation of the gear 43 in one direction notonly causes the guide 50 to move into register with the chute 49 but, atthe same time, locates the guide 64 in position to receive the nextpacket, which is sheared. Thereupon rotation of the gear43 in anopposite direction will move the guide 64 into a position of registerwith the upper inlet 49b of the chute 49 and, at the same time, returnthe guide 50 into position to receive the next suc'ceedingpacket.

Mounted through the arm 54 is a shaft 56 carrying at one end a bevelgear 58 fixed thereto. In mesh with the gear 58 is a second bevel gear60 fastened securely at the top of the post 39. The opposite end of theshaft 56 extends through thearr'n 54 and carries a plate 62 whichsupports'theabove' noted tubular guide 64. The

latter is formed with a lower closed end so that when the guide receivesa packet it is'contained therein. As gear 43 and sleeve 4:5 are rotated,the guide 64 swings about a vertical axis on the post 39 and thismovement causes the bevel gear 58 and its attached shaft 56 to revolve,simultaneously upending the guide 64 and cansing it to discharge thepacket at approximately the point at which the guide moves into registerwith the upper end 49b of the chute 49. By thus upending the guide 64 itwill be apparent that the solid material in the packet will bepositioned in a foremost position on the chute; i. e., in reverse orderto the arrangement'of packets from the other guide. Because of the factthat the two guides 50 and 64 are secured in fixed spaced-apart relat1onto one another ahd are arranged to move in timed relation to the rate offeed of packets from the forming machine, it should be observed that oneor the other of the guides will always be in a position to receive apacket which is being dropped from the forming machine.

It is customary in forming machines of the class described above toproduce a sheared packet with each rotation of a main driving shaftelement, such as the shaft 32. An-important feature of the invention isthe provision of means for utilizing the driving shaft to actuate gear43in a timed relationship to the shaft 32 so that each of the guides 50and 64 may complete a forward travel and its return travel during thefeeding of alternate packets from the machine.

Included in the means for performing this function is an arm'66, bestshown in Fig. 5, and pivotally supported on the frame top 7 andresiliently held in one position by means of a spring 68. At its innerend the arm 66 is constructed with an integral segmental gear portion 69which is adapted to mesh with the gear 43 already described. At itsopposite end the arm 66 carries a cam follower 70 which engages a cammember 72 fixed on a vertical shaft 74.

Shaft 74 is supported in the frame top 7 and its lower end extends belowthe frame top to receive a bevel gear 76 in mesh with another bevel gear78 fast on the shaft 32, as is illustrated at the right-hand side ofFig. 4. At its upper end the shaft 74, as shown in Fig. 3, has fixedthereto a gear 79 which meshes with a large gear 80 having a 2 to 1 gearratio and which is fast on a stub shaft 81 supported in the frame top 7.Also fixed on the shaft 81 is a second lower gear 82 which meshes with alarger gear 83 free on shaft 74. The gear 83 is formed with a hub 84which extends downwardly about the shaft 74 and has fixed at its lowerend the cam 72 already mentioned.

With this gear arrangement it will be observed that the gear 83,together with its attached cam 72, makes one revolution during theproduction of two packets or bags and, during this revolution the cammember 72 actuates the segmental gear first in one direction and then inthe other, so that each of the two bags produced during the singlerevolution of gear 83 are received and guided to the chute members.

It will be noted that the chute member 49 is formed with diverging upperinlet portions 49a and 49b, already referred to, and it will be apparentthat these inlets are spaced apart from one another a distanceapproximately corresponding to the spacing between the guides 64 and 50,as is more clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. In the case of theinlet-49b it may be desired to arrange for this member to extendupwardly slightly above the level of the surface of the table 35 so thatit may receive a packet smoothly with little opportunity for the solidmaterial therein to move forwardly in the packet as it is turned over.As shown in Fig. 4, the upper diverging ends of the chute 49 may restagainst the table 35, while the lower end of the chute extends intocommunication with a packet dispensing hopper apparatus.

Dispensing hopper and plunger apparatus The dispensing apparatusincludes a hopper comprising a substantially rectangularly shaped boxwhich, in size, exceeds slightly the dimensions of a packet formed inthe machine so that a packet passing from the chute may be receivedflatwise in the hopper. The hopper is also provided with a movablebottom section 92, Fig. 4, which may, for example, be of a horizontallyretracting type adaptedtobe moved into and out of a closed position bymeans of a compound motion linkage, more clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6,and including an arm 94 having one end pivoted at 93 in a block 91secured to the movable bottom section 92. The opposite end of arm 94 ispivotally secured to a lever 9a movable on a shaft 90 supported in abracket 96a, better shown in Fig. 5. The arm 94 and the movable bottomsection are connected to the remaining elements of the compound motionlinkage through a pivoted link 97. This link connects lever 95 withanother lever 96 which is pivotally supported on a stub shaft 99 carriedin a bracket 100 bolted to the under side of the frame top 7. A camfollower 101 on lever 98 is arranged to engage with a cam 102 on theshaft 32 and actuates a compound motion linkage to provide areciprocating movement of the bottom section 92.

A second cam 102a, also on shaft 32, engages a cam follower 101a on alink 98a pivoted on shaft 99. The link 96a is connected to a lever 97awhich is pivotally secured on arm 95a fixed at its upper end to shaft96. Movement of this latter linkage turns the shaft 96 about itslongitudinal axis. On this shaft 96 are solidly secured lift arms 103,104, 103 and 104, as noted in big. 5. These lift arms are adapted toengage at their outer extremities with plunger members 107 and 107 and108 and 108. The latter members are more clearly shown in Fig. 3 of thedrawings and are supported on respective stems 105 and 106, 105 and 106which are vertically disposed in a frame 109. The lift arms are formedat their outer extremities with yoke portions adapted to engage aroundthe stems of the plungers, as has been further illustrated in Fig. 5.

The frame 109 extends above the dispensing hopper and supports at theupper side thereof vertically arranged springs 110 which are heldbetween the upper edge of the frame and collar elements 111, with thelatter members being slidable on their respective stems. The yokeportions of the lift arms are arranged to bear against the under sidesof respective collar elements and the spring members 110 function toresiliently urge the plungers downwardly when the plungers are lifted upinto a raised position such as that shown in Fig. 6 in response to thelifting action of the compound motion linkage already described.

The plungers are arranged to operate in timed relation to movement ofthe retracting hopper section so as to move downwardly and engagepackets just as the retractable slide operates. Consequently, theplungers perform an important function or forcing the packets out of thehopper at a rate of speed greater than the speed at which they wouldmove in falling, due to the action of gravity. This makes it possible toaccelerate the loading of packets into a box which is supported on aconveyor extending just below the dispensing hopper 90. Also, with theaid of the plunger action noted, there may be achieved not only a fastrepeating operation but a more uniform stacking action, during thecourse of which the packets are pressed and compacted against oneanother as they are stacked so that they tend to remain in asubstantially squarely disposed and orderly pile. It should be notedthat some types of packets when placed one upon another may tend todevelop appreciable springiness which must be taken into considerationin attempting to compress the packets one upon another. In accordancewith the invention we adjust the stroke of the plungers so as to producea positive packing or tamping action of the plungers against the bagsand this action, we have found, overcomes the tendency of the bags tospring apart from one another and to become disarranged.

Attention is also directed to the fact that in forcing the packetsdownwardly with a positive pressure the spring loaded plungers areself-regulating with respect to the length of their stroke by reason ofthe spring arrangement described, and therefore the plungers can adjustthemselves to change in length of stroke in accordance with change inthe height of a stack of packets accumulating from time to time in thecontainer box.

It will be noted that the compound motion linkage is, in part, designedso as to provide for imparting a relatively long stroke to the plungerswith a limited cam movement which must be observed due to structurallimitations of the machine and due to the fact that the plungers mustreciprocate in timed relation to the feeding of packets into the hopper,as well as in timed relation to the retracting cycle of the movablebottom section of the hopper. All of these operations are carried out ina cycle defined by the length of time required for one full revolutionof the shaft 32 which corresponds to the time interval during which onepacket is formed and delivered from the forming machine itself.

With the guide mechanism, dispensing hopper and plunger apparatusdescribed it will be apparent that each succeeding packet is arranged inan alternately disposed manner so that the solid material of one packetoccurs in staggered relation to the solid material of an immediatelyadjacent packet. As a consequence of this, if the packets are stackedupon one another in a suitable container, there will be formed one ormore piles of packets, each of which piles is of a substantially uniformheight on all sides. Because of this the packets are more efficientlystacked and are more easily held in a uniform condition in thecontainer.

Moreover, it should be observed that the folded edges of the packetsnormally leave the forming machine in a foremost position with avertical sealed edge occurring at the rear of the packet. However, thealternating movement of the dual guide structure causes the packets tofollow one another into the box B with the folded edge of one packetoccurring on an opposite side from that of an immediately adjacentpacket, when the packets are in a flatwise position, and thisalternation of the packets further serves to equalize and smooth out anydifferences in thickness of adjacent packets so that they more readilytend to remain located in a uniform pile.

Since the packets are relatively small in size, for exam ple having acommon length of 2 /2" and a width of 2", as well as various otherdimensions, it is desirable to package these containers in boxes whichmay contain a number of piles, and it is therefore essential to be ableto stack the packets in adjacent piles in a compact manner using boxeswhich may, for example, in one dimension, closely correspond to thelength of the packets and which, in another dimension, may be somepredetermined multiple of the width of the packets. A common size of boxis one having a capacity for snugly receiving three stacks or piles ofpackets, and such a box has been shown in the drawings illustrating theinvention, it being understood that other sizes of containers may beutilized.

Reversing step feed motion In accordance with the invention we havefurther devised a novel reversing step feed motion for carrying out amultiple stacking operation which, although not limited thereto, isparticularly adapted to stacking in boxes having capacity for threepiles of packets. The reversing step reed motion causes the stacking totake place so that each pile is built up progressively and at the sametime in order that the height of each of the piles shall remainsubstantially the same at all points in the stacking cycle. With thisarrangement each stack supports an adjacent stack and prevents packetsfrom slipping out of position.

As shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings the reversing step feed motionpreferably operates in conjunction with two cooperating conveyor unitsarranged at right angles to one another, the first conveyor unit beingsupported along the right side of the mach e, as viewed in Fig. 2, andthe second conveyor unit being arranged at the front of the machine.

Referring in detail to the structure shown in the drawings, andespecially Fig. 2, numeral denotes the first conveyor frame whichsupports drums 122 and belts 124. The conveyor drum may be driven in anyconvenient manner as by a sprocket 126 and chain 128. A shaft 132 ismounted in an elongated shaped housing 135 which comprises the secondconveyor and which may be solidly fastened to the front of the formingmachine frame, as is more clearly shown in Fig. 4, or in some othersuitable manner. A sprocket chain 134 and sprocket 136 fast on the shaft132 (Fig. 2) is driven by the sprocket 138 fixed at the outer end ofshaft 32 referred to above.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, a series of boxes B1, B2, B3, B4, etc. areconstantly fed along the conveyor 120 in a position such that theyextend lengthwise across the conveyor belts 124 and are successivelydelivered to the second conveyor upon conveyor belts 152 of the lattermember, more clearly shown in Fig. 2. At the forward end of the conveyorframe 120 the front box B1 is normally held against further forwardmovement by a pair of stops 140 and 142 which have bent over endsadapted to engage over the forward box B1 and hold it against thefeeding action of the conveyor belts 124.

The stops 140 and 142 are fixed on a rod 143 which is h lr'otatably'supported at one 'endin the frame'side 6 and at the other endin a bearing block 144. Fixed on an intermediate part of the rod 143 isan arm 146 which carries at its outer extremity'a'solenoid'partcontrolled by a solenoid member 148. This solenoid may be located on theframe, as shown in Fig. 2,'or at some other desired point as, forexample, at the extreme outer edge of the conveyor frame.

The purpose of thestops 140 and 142 is to control the feeding of boxesfrom one conveyor to the otherand, in addition, to preventboxes on thefirst-conveyor from crowding against a rearmost box on'the secondconveyor and interfering with the-feeding movement of boxes on thesecond conveyor.

At the inner end of the rod '143 is another intermediate stop 150 formedwith a hooked end which normally extends downwardly into the path ofmovement of boxes passing along the-second conveyor 152 in a positionsuch that the'hooked end may engage inside-the first empty box occurringadjacentto a box which'is being'loaded. Although the empty box referredto is free to move in either direction through a limited travel withoutinterference with the hooked end of stop 150, it will be seen that thereis a point at which the hooked end 'will limit forward movement of thisempty box. The purpose of stop 150, therefore, is to control movement ofan empty box so that it canbe temporarily held and then released to moveinto a stacking position as soon as the next precedingbox has beenfilled.

The conveyor belts 152 act to move a series of boxes B, -B', B and Bthereon into an advanced position in which the foremost box engagesagainst a stop member. The reversing step feed motion which we havedevised acts to periodically push the boxes rearwardly along theconveyor belts 152 against the positive feeding action of these membersinto successive loading stations.

Includedin the feed motion shown in Fig. 2 is the retracting stop 156which extends transversely across the path of movement of the first boxB to hold the box against the feeding action of the conveyor in each ofthree different loading stations. The stop 156 is supported on one oftwo parallel bars 158160, Fig. 3, and its retracting movement iscontrolled by a solenoid 162 also secured at the outer end of the bar158. When the solenoid is energized it operates to contract-the stop156,-which allows the front box to pass along the conveyor. It'will beunderstood that this retraction ofthestop 1'56will only occur at a pointat which box B has been fully loaded with packets, as will behereinafter described.

The parallel bars in the side of the housing 135 and are resilientlyheld in parallel spaced relation to one anotherby means of a balancingcam 174 and spring 168 engaged around the upper ends of the bars, asshown in Fig. 3. Each of the parallel bars has mounted on an outersidethereof cam followers 170 and 172, respectively, between which islocated the balancing cam 174 which is free to rotate on a shaft 176transversely disposed through the conveyor housing 135.

Cam 174 has secured to it a sprocket gear 178 also free on the shaft 176and driven by a chain 180 in mesh with a gear 182 on a shaft 184, alsoshown in Fig. 11. Shaft 184 is driven by a Worm wheel 186 fixed thereonand, in turn, engaged by a worm 188'carried by the earlier describedshaft 132 supported in bearings, as shown. At the right-hand end ofshaft 132, as viewed in Fig. 11, is fixed a bevel gear 190 meshing withanother bevel gear 192 fast on a transversely disposed shaft 194. Thislatter shaft, through a sprocket and chain 196, drives the conveyor drum152a, as shown.

An important feature of the invention is the combination with the stop156, of the balancing cam mechanism which cooperates with the conveyorto repeatedly step the stop element 156 rearwardly in two stages, ineach case halting the box in a different stacking position with relationto the dispensing hopper.

The steps referred to are illustrated diagrammatically in Figs. 7 and 9.Thus, in the position first shown in Fig. 9, as well as Fig. 2, the boxB is in a forward loading position in which packets being delivered fromthe dispensing hopper will fall into the extreme right-hand side of thebox B.

The first reverse step feeding movement then takes place, in accordancewith the movement of the cam 174, at which time the box B is moved intoa loading posi- 158-160 are pivoted at164 and 166 tion such that packetsmay be stacked in an intermediate or central portion of the box, assuggested in the second position of Fig. 9.

Thereaftera second reverse step feeding movement is produced-by the cammovement andbox B is moved in to the third position shown in Fig. 9,'atwhich point packets are stacked at the'extreme left-hand end of the boxB. The next movement produced bythe cam returns the box to theintermediate loading station described and a final movement of the camre-locates the box B in its starting position, whereupon the cycle isrepeated until the box B is filled. At this time the box -B is releasedin the manner hereinafter described, and box B is engaged by the stop156.

In accordance witha further important aspect of the invention we providein the cam means a travel for controlling the step feed movement sothatthere will be provided a time interval in which two packets are stackedat both the forward and-rearward loading stations while only one packetis delivered to the box in an intermediate loading station. In otherwords, starting with the box B in an extreme forward position, twopackets will be stacked at the right-hand end of the box in the mannerdiagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 7. Then the box will besteppedrearwardly and one packet will be-stacked at an intermediate partof the box, and then a second reversefeeding will take place and twomore packets will be delivered in the left-handend of the box B.Thereafter the box feeds ahead into the intermediate stacking positionwith one packet again being delivered; then to the starting positionwith two packets being delivered; and this cycle is repeated until suchtime as the boxis filled.

This operation has been illustrated diagrammatically step by step .in.Fig. 7, wherein it .will be noted that packets P delivered from .theforming machine are guided by the tubular guides.50 and 64 in a sequencein which packet Pl isfirst located at the extreme righthand side .of box.3, as viewed in Fig. 7. The latter member under control of the camremains at rest for an interval long enough for a second packet P2 to besuperimposed upon the packet P1, as shown. Then the cam and stop memberwill move the box rearwardly into an intermediate loading station, asshown diagrammatically,.and a third packet P3 will be placed in anintermediate position, asshown. .When this .step has ibl1 carried outthe carnvand stop mechanism immediately moves the box into its thirdloading station, as diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 7, and a fourthpacket P4.is located at the extreme left-hand side of the box B, asnoted. The box remains .in this third loading position for an intervallong enough for one more packet to be delivered, namely packet P5, to besuperimposed upon the packet P4. Then the box moves forwardly into itsintermediate loading position, as shown at:the bottom of Fig. 7, and asixth packet, namely packet P6, is disposed upon the packet P3. The boxthen moves into its first loading position and thecycle described isrepeated.

As will be noted inFig. 10, the arrangement of the packets in alternatesequence in'the manner carried out by the tubular guides will, in eachone of the progressive stepsdescribed, result'in the packets beingdisposed with the thick ,portion of one packet occurring alternatelywith respect to the thick portion of an adjacent packet. Thisis shown inFig. 10 diagrammatically, which figure, it will be observed, views thepackets in the box B at right angles to the position shown in Fig. 7. Itwill be apparent that with-the filling material thus alternatelydisposed throughout the stack, a much greater stability and uniformityof pile is realized.

We have definitely found that by following this sequence for a box whichis to contain three stacks or piles of packets, a rapid andsubstantially uniform building up of the-piles'may be achieved, inwhichthe center pile or stack, at any time, willlbe of approximately the sameheight as an adjacent'pile at either side thereof, less the thickness ofone packet. That is to say, at'the time stacking is completed at eitherend of the box there will be one more packet than occurs at the centerpile. The practical result of this arrangement is to. constantlykeep'the piles of approximately'the same height and such. procedurecooperates with the action of the tamping devices or plungers to avoiddifficulty from the springiness'of these articles and to achieveexcellent uniformity of-stacking and an orderly arrangement of thepackets in the piles.

In connection with devising a reverse step feeding mechanism to dealwith an article of the light weight characteristics found in thecontainers described, a considerable problem develops. It will beapreciated that the boxes are very light in weight and the packets aremsecurely supported within the container. If the box or container issubjected to any appreciable impact or shock as it is moved rearwardlyinto successive loading stations, it will be thrown about on theconveyor tapes and may be difiicult to control. Moreover, there mayresult a troublesome displacement of partly stacked piles of packets inthe container. These considerations are further complicated by the factthat it is desired to effect some of the step feeding movements at arelatively fast rate of speed.

An important feature of the invention is the provision of the specialcam and stop arrangement which we have provided to carry out the reversestep feeding movement. We prevent the box and partly stacked piles frombeing upset by means of a balancing cam action. This is achieved throughthe combination with the cam described of the parallel bars andconnecting spring element, together with the two cam followers. The camfollowers are combined on two sides of the cam member 174 so that anytendency for the cam to snap or jerk the stop element 156 sharplyagainst the box' is eliminated. Instead, a balanced actuating movementtakes place in which the cam follower on the fall side of the cam, dueto the shape of the cam and to the action of the spring, tends to opposethe movement of the cam follower on the rise side of the cam so that themovement of the stop element is smoothed out and caused to take place inan easy manner and there is no sharp impact or jerking of the stopagainst the box at any point in the reverse feeding operation. At thesame time the forward feeding action achieved by the thrust of theconveyor belts, which is constantly maintained, avoids any occurrence ofjerking in advancing the box.

Counter mechanism When a sufficient number of packets have beendelivered to the box B to fill this member, it is necessary to retractthe stop 156 in order to allow the filled box to pass along the conveyorand to make room for an empty box, as has already been explained.

In accordance with the invention we have provided a novel countermechanism which controls retraction of the stop member through thesolenoid 162. With this novel counter mechanism we also provide meansfor simultaneously controlling the release of a box from the firstconveyor to the second conveyor. In combination with the means fortransferring a box from the first conveyor to the second conveyor weprovide additional means for controlling movement of an empty box whichoccurs immediately in back of the box which has been receiving packets.

The movement of the counter mechanism, therefore, controls threedistinct operations, as follows:

The stop 156 is retracted and immediately the conveyor belts pass theloaded box B ahead. As the loaded box moves away along the conveyor, therearmost edge of the next empty box advances to a point where one end ofthis box strikes against the hooked end of the stop 150 and ismomentarily retarded in its forward movement. At this point the secondsolenoid 148 operates to raise the stop 150 through rotation of theshaft 143 which permits the next empty box B to be carried forwardly bythe conveyor until the front edge of box B is brought into contact withthe stop 156. This latter member has now had an opportunity to regainits normal projecting position. Concurrently with these operations thetwo rear stops 140142 also on the shaft 143 are simultaneously raised,allowing an empty box to move from the first conveyor to the secondconveyor, and this action is repeated when the box B has been filled.

The counter mechanism by which these movements are controlled includes agear reduction unit 222 which may be of some conventional form and whichis secured inside the conveyor housing 135. duction unit carries a gear210 driven by a gear 212 on shaft 132. The reduction accomplished issuch that after fifty revolutions of shaft 132 an index finger 224completes one revolution about its axis and moves into contact with abutton 214 on a switch 226 mounted just below the index finger on theoutside of the conveyor This gear rehousing 135. The switch is supportedon a bracket 215,

and when actuated closes a circuit which energizes the solenoid 162 andretracts stop 156. Closing the switch 226 also energizes the secondsolenoid member 148 which controls rotation of the shaft 143. Althoughthe counter mechanism may be set to operate the solenoid members and thestops controlled by them after a number of packets, such as fifty, havebeen loaded, various other sizes of units may be similarly handled.

A desirable feature of the dual conveyor system described and the timedretraction of the stops carried out by the counter mechanism involvesthe elimination of any interference on the part of boxes from the firstconveyor with respect to boxes on the second conveyor. It is pointed outthat in order for the reverse step feeding operation to take placesmoothly, all of the boxes on the first conveyor line including boxes B,B, B" and 3", must be free to slide rearwardly a distance included inthe length of one box which, as shown in Fig. 2, automatically forcesthe rearmost box B' into the path of movement of boxes coming from thefirst conveyor. It will be apparent that if a box from the firstconveyor were allowed to progress into a position where it frictionallyengaged any one of the boxes on the second conveyor, it would seriouslyinterfere with the sliding of these boxes and, consequently, impede thereverse feeding motion. For this reason the provision of the stopmembers 140 and 142, together with the stop member 150, all working onthe same shaft which is under a common solenoid control with the controlof the stop member 156, prevents such an interference.

In moving the packets on the second conveyor into the various feedingstations in the manner above described, we may also employ guard railsfor holding the boxes in proper alignment with the dispensing hopper andsuch guard rails have been indicated by the numeral 240 in Fig. 2 of thedrawings. It will be observed that these rails are formed with inwardlyoffset portions which snugly fit against the sides of the boxes andlightly hold them, as shown.

The apparatus now described may be modified in various ways. Forexample, in Figs. 12, 13 and 14 we have illustrated another desirableform of mechanism for dispensing packets from a hopper. In the structureshown in the figures noted, 90' refers to a hopper member supported onthe frame in the manner already described and into which are fed packetsfrom a chute 49'. A conveyor 135' feeds boxes, as illustrated, inposition to receive packets as they are dispensed from the hopper and aretractable stop 156' controlled by solenoid 162' provides a reversestep feed in the manner above explained.

The hopper 90' is provided with two door sections or shutters 90" and90. These sections are supported in such a manner that they may open andswing about horizontal axes. When closed the shutters form a bottom forthe hopper 90, as illustrated in Fig. 14. Located at the four corners ofthe hopper 90 are vertical frame pieces 81', 82 and 83' in which arerotatably supported rods 84' and 85. Fixed to the latter members are theshutters and 90.

Fixed at the ends of the rods 84' and 85' are gears 86' and 87'.Arranged to mesh with these gears is a double rack member 88' slidablydisposed on a guide frame 89', in turn secured to channel member 93'bolted on the side of the conveyor housing 135.

In the channel member 93 is a cam roll 95 connected to a compressionspring 97' whose upper end is fastened to the rack 88'. The cam roll isoperated by a cam 99' fast on shaft 176 already noted as carrying thecam 17 t. A sprocket gear 101' on shaft 176 is driven by a chain 103, inturn driven by a sprocket gear 105' on shaft 194.

The shutter mechanism described has been found to work verysatisfactorily in conjunction with the plunger or tamping apparatusearlier described in the specification. It will be appreciated that indropping the packets into a container in a plurality of stacks, it isessential to hold the packet fiatwise as nearly as possible. The use ofthe shutter mechanism permits the plungers to come down into contactwith the packets and force them through the opening shutters on to theunderlying stack, and since the shutters open away from two oppositesides of the hopper there is produced an extended supporting effect ontwo sides of a packet which is leaving the hopper, with the result thatthere is less tendency for the packet to be tipped or forced into aninclined position prior to its coming to rest in the container or stackbelow. It is pointed out that the use of the cam and cam roller,together with the rack and gear mechanism, provide an excellent means ofopening and closing the shutter mechanism in properly timed relationshipwith respect to the movement of the cam 174 and the other power drivenparts of the machinery which control the delivery of packets, as well asthe plunger movement.

in addition to the type of packet shown in the said Patterson patent,and illustrated particularly in Figs. and 7, we may also employ thepackaging mechanism of the invention with other types of packets. InFig. 8 we have shown a novel form of packet which we have constructed soas to provide a dual compartment feature. As shown in the figurereferred to, numeral 200 denotes the envelope body which may be formedof the same material as the earlier described packets and which may bemade in a sealing machine of the character indicated, having speciallydevised sealing elements which will produce sealing along the edgesnoted in the envelope body 200. In detail, the envelope body includes acompartment 202 for holding a condiment such as salt, for example, and asecond compartment 203 for holding a condiment such as pepper. Thesecompartments are so arranged that either compartment may be separatelyopened by tearing away a corner of .the packet, thus affording a degreeof selectivity and, at the same time, furnishing a useful article fordispensing small amounts of the condiment itself. Various other forms ofpackets may be constructed in this way to include a plurality ofcompartments or chambers.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that we have devisedan efficient and compact packaging apparatus highly useful in handlingand packaging envelope type packets so that filler material contained inthese packets will be distributed in a manner tending to provide forgreatest uniformity in stacking. It is intended that the various partsof the mechanism described may be altered in various other respects andmay be utilized either in part, or in whole, in connection with otherpackaging machines and other types of packaging operations.

While we have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, it shouldbe understood that we are limited only by the scope of the claimsappended hereto.

We claim:

1. In a machine for packaging packets which enclose a solid material,means for dispensing a relatively small number of packets, saiddispensing means including a dispensing hopper, guide means forconducting packets to the dispensing hopper, a conveyor member forlocating a packet receiving carton in position to receive packetsdelivered from the said dispensing hopper, and means for varying theposition of the carton relative to the dispensing hopper so as to causesuccessive piles of packets to be built up progressively in order thatthe height of each pile shall remain substantially the same in aplurality of adjacent piles in the carton, in which the said means forvarying the position of the container includes a stop element, a cam,and means operating in response'to movement of the cam to force the stopelement and carton rearwardly along the conveyor member, said cam beingformed with a series of continuous cam surfaces which produce changes inthe position of the carton in a sequence such that the carton will passsuccessively from a forward stacking position to an intermediatestacking position, then to a rearward stacking position, then back tothe intermediate stacking position, and then to the forward stackingposition, remaining in each of the forward and rearward stackingpositions twice as long as in the intermediate stacking position.

2. in a machine for making materials dispensing packets, a packetdispensing apparatus including a dispensing hopper having a trap doortherein, guide means for conducting packets from the said machine to thedispensing hopper, a conveyor member for locating a packet container inposition to receive packets delivered from the said dispensing hopperwhen the trap door is opened, means for varying the position of thecontainer relative to the hopper, said means comprising a step feedmotion having a stop element adapted to engage with the said container,a cam, and parallel bar means operating in response to movement of thecam to force the stop element and container rearwardly along theconveyor member,

said cam being formed with aseries of continuous cam surfaces whichproduce changes in the position of the container in a sequence such thatthe box will pass successively from a forward stacking position to anintermediate stacking position, then to a rearward stacking position,then back to the intermediate stacking position, and then to the forwardstacking position, remaining in each of the forward and rearwardstacking positions during an interval suflicient for two packets to bereleased from the dispensing hopper, and remaining in the intermediatestacking position during an interval sufiicient for a single packet onlyto be released from the dispensing hopper.

3. in a machine for making bags of the sealed edge sugar bag type,including means for producing a continuous length of verticallyextending connected bag sections carrying a solid material therein andshearing means for periodically separating the lowermost bag section,the combination of a bag dispensing apparatus with a conveyor member forplacing a container in position to receive separated bags delivered fromthe dispensing apparatus, said container being of a width correspondingto the width of one of the bag sections and having a lengthapproximately corresponding to a multiple of the length of one of thebag sections, said bag dispensing apparatus including a plurality ofguide elements movable to receive and selectively arrange the bags asthey pass from the shearing means so that the bags are dropped into thecontainer in an alternately disposed manner with those portions of solidmaterial in adjacent superimposed bags occurring in staggered relation.

4. in a machine for making bags of the sealed edge sugar bag type,including means for producing a continuous length of verticallyextending connecting bag sections carrying a solid material therein, andshearing means for periodically separating the lowermost bag section,the combination of a bag dispensing hopper With a conveyor member forplacing a container in position to receive separated bags delivered fromthe dispensing hopper, and alternating tubular guide members movable toselectively arrange the bags and advance them to the hopper so that theyare dropped into the container in an alternately disposed manner withthose portions of solid material in adjacent superimposed bags occurringin staggered relation to one another.

5. A structure as defined in claim 4, in which the tubular guidesinclude arms for supporting them in spacedapart relation, and means forpivoting the arms about a vertical axis through arcs of approximately 6.A structure as defined in claim 5, including a chute formed with dualinlets, each of said inlets extending into a position to receive apacket from one of the tubular guides as the latter member reaches theend of its 90' travel.

7. In a machine for making bags of the sealed edge sugar bag type,including means for producing a continuous length of verticallyextending connecting bag sections carrying a solid material therein, andshearing means for periodically separating the lowermost bag section,the combination of a pair of alternating tubular guides constructed andarranged to receive and support successive separated bags in an uprightposition in which the solid material contained in the respective bagsoccurs at the bottom portions thereof, an inclined guideway formed witha dual inlet and located below the alternating guides. means forrotating one of the guides with an enclosed bag about a vertical axisinto position to release the said enclosed bag on one of the dual inletsto the said inclined chute with the solid material in the bag occurringin a foremost position, and means for rotating the second guide of thesaid pair with an enclosed bag in an opposite directilpn into a positionabove the other inlet to the inclined c ute.

8. A structure as defined in claim 7, and further including gear meanscooperating with the said second tubular guide for simultaneouslyupending and releasing its respective enclosed bag upon the inlet to thechute with the solid material therein occurring in a rearmost position.

9. In a machine for making bags of the sealed edge sugar bag type,including means for producing a continuous length of verticallyextending connected bag sections carrying solid material therein andpresenting a forward folded edge and top, rear and bottom edges whichare sealed, and shearing means for periodically separating the lowermostbag section, the combination of a bag dispensing apparatus, with aconveyor member for placing a container in position to receive separatedbags delivered from the dispensing apparatus, a pair of alternatingtubular guides supported on arms which extend at right angles to oneanother, said tubular guides being constructed and arranged to receiveand support successive separated bags in an upright position in whichsolid material contained in the respective bags occurs at the bottomportion thereof, an inclined guideway having diverging inlets locatedbelow the alternating guides, means for rotating one of the guides withan enclosed bag about a vertical axis into a position to release thesaid enclosed bag upon the inclined guideway with the solid material inthe bag occurring in a foremost position and with the rear sealed edgeof the bag extending from front to rear of the bag in its flatwiseposition and along one side thereof, means for rotating the second guideof the said pair with an enclosed bag in an opposite direction, andmeans cooperating with the said second guide for simultaneously upendingand releasing its respective enclosed bag upon the chute with the solidmaterial therein occurring in a rearmost position and with the saidvertical sealed edge of the bag extending from front to rear of the bagin its flatwise position and in alternately disposed relation to thecorresponding vertical edge of an immediately preceding bag.

10. In a packaging mechanism, a conveyor adapted to support a containerin position to receive materials therein, in combination with areversing step feed motion for controlling the position of the containeron the conveyor, said step feed motion comprising a pair of parallelbars pivotally secured at one side of the conveyor, a pair of camfollowers secured to the parallel bars, a cam membcr rotatably mountedbetween the parallel bars for engagement with the cam followers on twoopposite sides thereof, a spring secured between the ends of the bars toresiliently hold the cam followers against the cam, a stop fixed to oneof the parallel bars and extending into the path of movement of thecontainer, said cam mechanism cooperating with the stop periodically tomove the container into difierent positions on the conveyor, theengaging surface of said cam consisting of two opposite and similardwell sections, and the cam followers being arranged to engage againstthe opposite sections at points so chosen that the rise of the camfollower on one side is resiliently opposed by the fall of the camfollower on the other side.

11. An apparatus of the class described, including a dispensing hopper,a conveyor member for locating a container in position to receivepackets delivered from the dispensing hopper, a second conveyor memberarranged to deliver empty containers from itself to the said firstconveyor, stop means interposed in the path of movement of thecontainers, said stop means including a forward retractable stop, anintermediate stop for limiting movement of a box on the said firstconveyor, and additional stop means for holding boxes on the said secondconveyor, a counter mechanism for controlling release of a filledcontainer, said counter mechanism including solenoid means operativelyconnected to the said several stop members, and means for periodicallyoperating the solenoid means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 471,257 Lorenz Mar. 22, 1892 859,772 Hoyt July 9, 1907 952,352Pieper Mar. 15, 1910 1,217,992 Paridon Mar. 6, 1917 1,292,902 Smith Ian.28, 1919 2,006,147 Paridon June 25, 1935 2,191,436 Bell Feb. 27, 1940FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 605,493 Germany Nov. 17, 1934

